National Day of Prayer – What to Pray For

May 4th, 2017, is the United States National Day of Prayer. I am addressing Christians, specifically, today. This is a day we are suggested to pray for our government leaders and the direction of our country, and I believe that we should.

There’s a lot to pray about, President Trump, his cabinet, different groups of people, corruption, etc.

Before we start laying out all of our wants and desires and concerns, and start cursing or damning the people in power, let’s first sit down and calm ourselves before God.

Jesus taught us how to pray, and we should go there first before listening to the leaders of our country as how to pray. How to pray prayers that work.

What should we pray for specifically?

After spending some time in worship, pray that God’s will be done on earth.

What does God’s will look like?

Psalm 122:6-9 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.’ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity.

also

Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This last passage is also known as the great commission.

There are many other things to pray from the scriptures, but I believe that for our leaders in position of power, including their own relationship with God to be strengthened, but that we are to pray for peace in Jerusalem and for the ease of speaking freely the gospel and the ability to equip them in order to in turn share the gospel.

While many are focusing on just practicing their religion or ability to do what they please without fear from contention from the government, we should be even more so concerned with the true commission from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to be able to speak freely about what we believe.

This does not mean that we should be rioting, protesting, or causing trouble in the streets over this cause. (1 Peter 2:13-17) Or using our religious freedom to condemn (John 3:17), or spread hatred, rage, discord, jealousy, hostility, and other aberrations (Galatians 5:19-20).

We need to pray to be able to continue to share the gospel peaceably.

Unfortunately, evangelist takes on many extreme forms, and that’s not what we’re discussing today. We’re asking for prayer for the ability to engage people in a conversation about God that leads to the discussion of Jesus.

We should also pray for forgiveness for what the people in our country have done.

The shedding of innocent blood.

The persecution of the innocent.

Not taking care of the widows, the orphans and the hungry.

Not defending the defenseless.

And many other sins.

We need to pray for forgiveness, we need to seek the face of God, we need to resolve to not do terrible things anymore, and to live as God intended us to live with each other. (1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5:16-26, John 13:35)